I've been having tons of fun lately. Had a really good week. Elder Lameta and I's time together is almost up. I have transfer on the 13th. So excited. It's kind of a bummer that I will stay here again. 4 and a half months in 2 wards.. I'm losing it. lol I feel like I know everyone. It's weird, I'm not used to it for sure. I'd like to go back to covering a whole stake or two. Not just two wards. But lots of things are going to be changing this upcoming transfer. President Winn is moving a lot of leaders around since we arent doing the best as a mission right now.(We're ONLY baptizing 50 a week...lol) I love my mission!

I am 3 weeks from htting a year. It's so weird. The mission is just life now and it's going by so fast. I'm kind of at a weird point in my mission though. I'm not trunky or anything, and I'm not green at all, so I'm just content with where im at right now and having a lot of fun. The only struggle I've been having lately is just really loving my investigators. I never thought that would be a problem. I feel like I'm baptizing people just because it's my job and to set an example for my Elders, and not because I truly love them. It's just hard right now to have a special relationship with people because you teach them for 3 weeks and then it's on to the next one. I'm almost not really pumped for baptisms anymore. It's just what we have every Saturday... I'm not being prideful. Just losing how special it is in the fact that it happens every week. I'm working on it though!

BUT I have found a new thing that I absolutley love. Being a leader is the biggest blessing right now. I have been able to help a lot of the elders in my dstrict lately. It's been the best. Idk how but whatever it is I'm saying is helping them. I talked to an Elder today only because he saw how much his companion changed after talking to me about the mission and what he needed to do to be happy. It was awesome. It's weird how everytime I talk to an Elder I think, "I just did absolutley nothing for that kid." But they start turning it around and improve. Sooo cool. :) So even though I'm struggling loving my investigators (gosh that sounds terrible!) I have never been more happy on my mission than right now helping these Elders. It's THE best.

For transfers though I'm going to be staying here in the Pioneer Stake pretty much for sure. And I'm crossing my fingers I'm a DT (District Leader/Trainer) There are lots of English kids coming in. But whatever, I just do what I'm told. I'm doing good. Happy to hopefully be done in the Samoan program soon lol Being 230lbs is not fun. I love you all and imma keep tearing it up as always.

Elder Orr

P.S. Sorry I never really talk about scripture stuff or quote things throughout my letters from the scriptures or send you tons of spiritual stuff. I'm not really into the whole sharing stuff just to share it. I mean, you guys know the scriptures so there is no need for me to expound on King Benjamin or anything. So just in case you're wondering I am learning stuff and getting a stronger testimony. Learning lots! But I'd rather just share the highlights and the big stuff. Sorry if that's what youre wanting. :/ I read other Elders blogs from my mission and think "My family and friends probably think I'm out here just having fun" haha But if you aren't having fun with the gospel and enjoy being a member, then whats the point? You know what I mean? For instance, and I quote "Adam fell that men might be and men are that they might have JOY" haha There's some scripture mastery action for ya. :)

I'm just being me and sharing the gospel. I love it. Not putting a show on for people, I just love and a simple, powerful testimony. THAT is how you baptize. I don't know what I'm trying to say other than, just because I'm out having more fun than anyone, still have a personality and joke around a lot doesn't mean I'm not spiritually on fire right now. I love this church. I love being a missionary. I love my Savior.

Now go share your testimony, it's not hard if you're just yourself and talk about it like you actually have one. Share what you know. What is there to be afraid of when you know your right, and you have the Holy Ghost backing you up?? (Mosiah 28:3) Read it and live it! Love you family. I miss you so much. Enjoy the heat. Cant wait for August and to have Shelbz out here!

This week was good. I've just been busy with the district and keeping things afloat. I had a lot of issues earlier in the transfer, but Elders are really making a lot of progress. It's amazing how I'm actually able to help these guys. It's really weird when I'm talking to a former ZL that was in my zone when I first started my mission. But it's fun. I'm enjoying it a lot, giving trainings and everything.

I'm glad you all were able to meet Elder Wiehl! Just to hear some stories and talk to him. He's a really good guy. Kept me in line. lol But I don't know where the work ethic question came from.(Elder Wiehl asked where Brandon got his good work ethic from.) When I read it I was like "What work ethic?" haha jk :) But I have gotten better. I'll always remember Dad going through my binder a long time ago and finding a paper that said I admired Derek Jeter because of his work ethic and then dad got on me me for not having one and doing bad in school. So yeah.. I'm trying to step my game up and work like a Orr. :)

Next Tansfer is July 13th.

It's not official but I'm coming home July 25th next year.

Glad to hear about Austin.(Austin's knees have been bugging him. We took him in, and everything seems to be fine. He just needs to quit growing!) I was definelty worried about him. He better not be 6' 3". I can't even imagine him being as big as me. Whatever though.. he could be 6' 4". But I still don't have red hair. :)

This week has been wonderful. We had our two day leadership meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday. It was so good. We have the best mission presidency you could ever ask for. The taught us all kinds of new things. I am so blessed to be in leadership. I felt pretty bad most of the time though because they kept talking about how there were 14 companions with no one on date and how that is almost impossible to do in this mission. Well.. I was one of them.... :(

So as of Wednesday night we had 2 progressing investigators, and NO ONE on date. And at the end of Sunday night. We had a miracle baptism, 3 investigators on date, and 7 progressing investigators!!! We went from the worst in the mission to one of the few to hit the standard of excellence this week! Completely Amazing. So blessed. I feel like the Lord had pity on us and gave us all this new work. lol But its so great right now. I shouldn't be saying that because my district is doing awful and my car was stolen my one of the elders in my district about an hour ago. This elder went nuts because Lameta was making fun of him. Lameta said Samoa was better than Hawaii, and the kid flipped and took my car. So everything isn't going the best, but I'm happy and that's all that matters. But I have to go and handle some stuff. haha Cant wait :)

Oh and I ran into a mom of an investigator Wiehl and I taught in West Valley City. The mom told me how her daughter didn't want to be baptized now because the new missionaries aren't taking their time with her and aren't as understanding as Wiehl and I were. Mom wants me to come and teach her daughter as soon as I can. It's a pretty sweet feeling knowing that, but I have to get the girl converted to the Church and not Wiehl and I . It is still always a blessing to hear you're doing a good job from your investigators. I miss West Valley so much. Oh and you guys too. :)